Dinghy carrying 157 people capsizes in Channel after engine fire

French authorities have reported that a dinghy carrying 157 people capsized in the English Channel after its engine caught fire at sea. The incident took place on Tuesday, prompting a coordinated rescue effort involving French maritime vessels, two boats from the UK Border Security Command, and an RNLI lifeboat. According to officials, all 157 individuals were pulled from the water. Among them, 54 were taken to France on the British vessels, while the remainder are being transported by French ships. The entire group is destined for the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

This incident comes just a day after Reform UK, a British political party, unveiled a proposal dubbed 'Operation Fortress.' The plan would deploy the Royal Navy to return migrant boats to France or Belgium. The party's leader, Nigel Farage, responded to the capsizing by saying, 'We must put a stop to this. Our plan will save lives.'

No further details have been released regarding the condition of the passengers or the cause of the engine fire. Authorities have not yet commented on how the fire started or whether any injuries were sustained. The rescue operation is still ongoing, and more information is expected to be provided in the coming hours.